Silverberg: The fight for freedom

Friday

Jul 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Kathy Silverberg

Today, as the grills are warmed up and the firecrackers readied, as the Stars and Stripes are run up the flagpole at ceremonies and private homes across the land, we Americans celebrate our 238th birthday as one nation, with liberty and justice for all.

On this day, we are called to remember our founders, the signers of the Declaration of Independence who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to form a new nation. It is an opportunity for Americans, whether descendants of those early colonists or much more recent immigrants, to remember the sacrifice of those who signed that historic document and of those who fought so bravely over the next seven years to win independence for this new nation. Nearly 8,000 Americans, or 1 in 20 white males living in the colonies at the time, gave their lives for our freedom. If that number were equated to today's population, it would be 3 million.

Over the next two-plus centuries, Americans would be called to serve their country in defense of freedom, once in a civil war and in many other instances on foreign shores. It was that civil conflict that divided a young nation and from which scars still remain. But it was that war as well that gave rise to the notion of memorializing fallen heroes in national cemeteries, an idea supported by President Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address.

In part, Lincoln said, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan ..."

Today, there are 131 national cemeteries administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 40 states, among the newest being the Sarasota National Cemetery, which opened in January of 2009.

Soon thereafter, I had the occasion to attend a memorial service for a neighbor who had fought in World War II, and I was struck by the majesty of the place. It seemed a fitting tribute to those who have served in defense of our nation.

But when I returned to the cemetery for the second time, this past Saturday as the Patriot Plaza was officially dedicated and donated by the Patterson Foundation -- which funded the entire $12 million project -- to the Sarasota National Cemetery, it took on a whole new meaning.

Now, not only is the cemetery a peaceful resting place for veterans and their families but it includes a magnificent amphitheater designed to honor the lives of those whose commitment and dedication have helped to maintain the freedoms we commemorate today.

The facility itself is functional and practical, providing shade and seating for those who come to participate in events that it can now accommodate. It also serves as a peaceful place for those seeking solace near the burial ground of loved ones. That, in itself, would be enough to celebrate, but the addition of original art designed in keeping with the spirit of the plaza makes it more than just a gathering spot. It becomes a place of inspiration exemplifying a national pride in all that is best about America.

Many of the some 3,000 who attended the dedication had served in the military, had family members buried in the cemetery or otherwise had a close connection to the place. They were inspiriting by their presence.

Likewise were those who participated in a year-long campaign organized by the Patterson Foundation in conjunction with more than 100 community partners to bring awareness to the Patriot Plaza effort and to honor the contribution of veterans in this area.

As part of the Legacy of Valor campaign, the oil portraits of 15 local veterans were prominently displayed during a weeklong Veterans Day celebration last November at the Friendship Centers in Sarasota. In the months following, the portraits were displayed at other locations around the area. Two weeks ago, the artist, Malenda Trick, presented the portraits to their subjects in a reception at the center in Sarasota. It was a moving ceremony, during which several of the recipients recalled their wartime service, spoken with simple humility that brought many in attendance to tears.

These two events, and dozens of others held throughout the past year, spotlighted the value of service as well as the commitment of those who served and of their loved ones who stayed behind.

As this nation commemorates the anniversary of its birth, may Americans everywhere remember the kind of sacrifices that have been made on our behalf and rededicate ourselves -- with malice toward none -- to advancing the cause of freedom for all.

Kathy Silverberg is former publisher of the Herald-Tribune's southern editions. Email: kathy.silverberg@comcast.net